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Phone-Hacking Trial

Brooks Cleared of Prince William Photo Charge

02.20.14 11:08 AM ET

Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of Rupert Murdoch's shuttered tabloid News of the World, who is on trial in connection with alleged phone-hacking, was acquitted on Thursday of one charge of authorizing an illegal payment for a picture of Prince William at a fancy dress party in a bikini.

The picture was never actually published, but an illustration based on the picture was.

Brooks still faces four other charges relating to conspiracy to hack voicemail messages on mobile phones.

Before she began her defense against these, the jury were instructed by the judge overseeing her trial at London's Old Bailey court to return a verdict of not guilty on one of two charges against her of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

Brooks, who was also a former editor of Murdoch's Sun and News of the World tabloids, denies all the charges.